The Rewind: Dimond football ends conference title drought; UAF’s Kendall Kramer earns GNAC weekly honor and Anchorage Wolverines bounce back

Welcome to The Rewind, a weekly digest that puts a spotlight on the biggest stories and best performances from Alaska’s world of sports.

This past week featured several notable individual and team performances across the Alaska sports landscape at the high school, collegiate and professional levels. The penultimate week of the high school football season saw some dominant performances and a title drought ended. Meanwhile, several other fall sports had major meets and big matchups take place in town. On the college scene, the University of Alaska Anchorage and University of Alaska Fairbanks volleyball teams spilt their conference home matchups while Seawolves hockey opened the season on a high note. Outside the state, several Alaskans had impressive performances and career achievements worth recognizing and celebrating in their respective arenas.

Headlines and highlights

In the penultimate week of the high school football regular season, Dimond extended its program-record win streak to not only stay unbeaten but clinch the Cook Inlet Conference title in the process with a dominant 35-12 win over Bettye Davis East Anchorage on Saturday evening. It marked the Lynx’s first time beating the Thunderbirds in a decade and ensured they’d host the first playoff game in school history as the last time they were this powerful of a presence, all playoff games took place at Anchorage Football Stadium.

“It feels great coming from my freshman year when we won like two games and got blown out on this field 52-0 on junior varsity and to be here now as CIC champs is a great feeling,” Dimond senior Alex Borke said. “We still got more to do and more to come and we’re ready.”

[Dimond football claims Cook Inlet Conference title with first win over East in a decade]

In other Division I gridiron action, both West and South got scoring hat tricks of sorts from one of their best players to secure road victories. The Eagles got another three-rushing-touchdown game from senior power running back Zephaniah Sailele in a 28-7 win over Service while South got a pair of offensive touchdowns and an interception return from senior Cole Yarrington to come from behind to beat Colony.

Out on the trails at Kincaid Park, the 2024 Region IV cross-country championships saw South junior Mia Stiassny pull off a shocking upset by being the first girl to cross the finish line in a time of 19:04 while East sophomore Katahdin Staples continued his strong season by winning the boys race in a time of 16:34.

“I believed in myself,” Stiassny said. “I knew it was possible, but there’s just so many different people, and a lot of people focus just on running, but I’m skiing too. I’m a Nordic skier. That’s my main sport. I think there (are) other skiers like me who, like, are really, really focused on skiing, but they’re really fast runners. It’s just like a mixed bag.”

[South’s Stiassny and East’s Staples win Region IV Cross Country titles]

Both the UAA and UAF volleyball teams split their respective home-opening slate of games this past week, winning the first on Thursday and dropping the second on Saturday. Junior outside hitter Tia Allen led the Seawolves in kills over the course of the two games with a 19 combined while senior outside hitter Karli Nielson eclipsed double figures twice for the Nanooks with 33 in total over the two matches.

The UAA hockey team opened its season with an exhibition bout against Grand Canyon University on Friday night and had six players record a goal in a commanding 7-1 victory with senior forward Porter Schachle of Wasilla leading the way with a pair.

“It’s awesome. I had a blast,” Schachle said. “It was super fun playing with everyone and seeing all our young guys get out there and tear it up. It was really incredible.”

[UAA hockey opens season with commanding win over Grand Canyon as big challenge looms]

For the second time this season, UAF’s Kendall Kramer earned GNAC Runner of the Week for women’s cross country after finishing in second place at the Bill Roe Classic 6K run this past Saturday. She was the top NCAA Division II finisher among a field of 120 runners and her time of 20:31.9 trailed only Constance Nankivell of Trinity Western and helped the Nanooks women’s team take third place.

“Last week’s meet presented an incredible opportunity for Kendall to compete with some of the most respected and talented runners in the west region,” assistant coach Conrad Haber said in a statement. “She patiently executed her plan while also remaining malleable, making fantastic mid-race decisions to adapt to what was transpiring around her. I am really excited for what lies ahead.”

UAA had a pair of top 15 finishers at the event with freshman Alexandra Otto coming in ninth with a time of 21:21 while senior Nell Baker came in at 13th with a mark of 21:37.

After going 0-2 in their first weekend back on the ice last weekend, the Anchorage Wolverines closed out the NAHL Showcase with three straight victories this past week. They defeated the Johnstown Tomahawks 6-2 last Wednesday and got a pair or third-period goals from local product Cole Frawner. On Friday, they beat the New Jersey Titans 4-2 and on Saturday, dispatched the Colorado Grit 5-1.

Alaska stars shining Outside

Anchorage’s Tyree Wilson had one of his best games as a pro in the Las Vegas Raiders decisive 20-16 win over the Cleveland Browns this past Sunday in Week 4 of the NFL regular season. The second-year defensive end was a disruptive force off the edge, recording a tackle and a pair of quarterback hits on his way to finishing as the team’s highest-graded player according to Pro Football Focus with an overall of 82.7.

Juneau’s PJ Foy was among 71 swimmers named to the U.S. Junior National Team and one of three boys picked for the 100-meter butterfly. The former record-breaking Thunder Mountain star is currently enrolled as a freshman at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and won his signature event at the Northwest Spring Sectionals in Federal Way, Washington, in March with a personal-best time of 53.44 seconds to qualify for the Olympic Trials.

Anchorage’s Brooke Dexter recorded double-digit kills for the 10th straight match to open the season for the Simon Fraser University women’s volleyball team Friday, but it wasn’t enough to lift the Red Leafs past Western Washington University as they got swept in straight sets by the Vikings. Her 11 kills were the most by a player on either team, and she was the only one to reach double figures.

Anchorage’s Jayden Heartwell helped lead the Dickinson State University football team to a commanding 42-6 victory over Jamestown on Saturday. The former South standout led the charge for the Blue Hawks defense by tying for the team lead in total tackles with five, including three solos and one for a loss and broke up a pass as well.

Anchorage’s Elijah Reed recorded his second touchdown of the season for the Sierra College football team in a 40-29 loss to Foothill this past Saturday. The former East two-sport star averaged a healthy 5.2 yards per carry with a long of 12 yards as he finished with six carries for 31 yards.

Anchorage sisters Frida and Marisol Vargas helped their respective women’s college soccer teams to success for the second weekend in a row. On Saturday, Marisol recorded her third straight win and shutout as the goalkeeper for the University of St. Mary (Kansas) in the Spires’ 1-0 victory over York. Meanwhile, Frida logged an assist in back-to-back games for the South Oregon University Raiders in shutout wins over Bushnell and Corban on Friday and Saturday.

Fast Forward

Prep

Football

Bartlett at West, Saturday at 7 p.m.

The best matchup of the final week of the regular season is slated to take place on Saturday night under the lights at the Nest on Hillcrest in a CIC clash between the Eagles and Golden Bears, who both have five wins with just two losses.

Tennis

Region IV Championships, Tuesday at Alaska Club East

The postseason officially got underway this week with a two-day region tournament with finals slated to take place Tuesday afternoon starting at 1 p.m.

Cross Country

ASAA state championships 5K at Bartlett, Saturday at 10 a.m.

The season will come to a close this weekend as long-distance runners from across the state will descend upon Anchorage for the chance to contend for individual and state titles.

College

Hockey

Denver University at UAA, Saturday at 6:07 p.m.

The Seawolves host the reigning Division I and top-ranked Pioneers coached by Anchorage’s David Carle for a two-game series this weekend on Saturday and Sunday nights.

Last week’s results

Prep

TENNIS

Tuesday

Eagle River 5, Bartlett 4

Girls #1 Singles: Syrianna Allbritton (Bartlett) def Morgan VanSlyke (Eagle River), 6-3, 6-1

Girls #2 Singles: Ellie Burke (Bartlett) def Meilani Wilcox (Eagle River), 6-1, 6-2

Girls #1 Doubles: Hlee Lao Nkauj/ Mimi Xiong (Bartlett) def Cate Utterback/ Anna Fasching (Eagle River), 6-1, 7-5

Girls #2 Doubles: Susannah Dyrenforth/ Madi Dwyer (Eagle River) def Nou Lao/ Jer Lao (Bartlett), 2-6, 6-4, 110-9

Boys #1 Singles: Benjamin Charlestream (Eagle River) def Levi Patterson (Bartlett), 4-6, 6-2, 12-10

Boys #2 Singles: David Bestaorous (Bartlett) def Tristan Shepherd (Eagle River), 7-5, 6-2

Boys #1 Doubles: Cole Smith/Jacob Baltz (Eagle River) def Aidan Willet/ Carlo Rodriguez (Bartlett), 6-0, 6-2

Boys #2 Doubles: Ben Utterback/Sean Deaton (Eagle River) def Atticus Franklin/ Wyatt Rust (Bartlett), 7-6, 6-0

Mixed Doubles: Evan Dimmick/ Wendy Attebery (Eagle River) won by default

• • •

VOLLEYBALL

Tuesday

Nikiski 3, Seward 1

Wasilla 3, Palmer 1 (25-16, 25-17, 22-25, 25-12)

Service 3, Eagle River 0 (25-22, 25-20, 25-15)

Dimond 3, East 1 (20-25, 25-21, 25-21, 25-22)

South 3, West 0 (25-15, 25-19, 25-18)

Chugiak 3, Bartlett 0 (25-23, 25-20, 25-17)

Thursday

Kenai Central 3, Seward 0

Houston 3, Hutchison 1

West 3, Juneau-Douglas 0 (25-17, 25-11, 25-17)

Wasilla 3, Service 1 (25-15, 22-25, 25-13, 25-21)

Friday

Dimond 2, Eagle River 0 (25-12, 25-17)

Dimond 2, Seward 0 (25-22, 25-16)

Wasilla 2, Palmer 0 (25-21, 25-16)

Kenai Central 1, Dimond 1 (25-19, 18-25)

Wasilla 2, Eagle River 0 (25-13, 25-20)

Wasilla 2, Bartlett 0 (25-14, 25-18)

Saturday

Mountain City Christian Academy 3, Hutchison 0

• • •

FLAG FOOTBALL

Tuesday

West 12, Chugiak 7

South 18, Bartlett 0

Service 7, Eagle River 0

Wednesday

Lathrop 13, West Valley 0

Thursday

Chugiak 34, Eagle River 0

Service 20, Bartlett 6

Friday

Wasilla 24, Lathrop 0

Saturday

Dimond 21, East 0

North Pole 27, Wasilla 12

South 20, Chugiak 0

• • •

FOOTBALL

Friday

Soldotna 42, Eagle River 7

Redington 56, Homer 46

South 28, Colony 21

North Pole 26, Palmer 13

West 28, Service 7

Saturday

Dimond 35, East 12

Soldotna 42, Eagle River 7

Bartlett 34 Juneau 20

Chugiak 33, West Valley 18

Nikiski 54, Valdez 14

Seward 48, Monroe Catholic 12

Kenai Central 63, Kodiak 0

Lathrop 58, Wasilla 14

Week 7 ASBN Poll

Division I

1. Dimond 7-0 at Service

2. West 5-2 vs Bartlett

3. Bartlett 5-2 at West

4. East 5-2 at South

5. South 3-4 vs East

Division II/III

1. Soldotna 7-0 vs Lathrop

2. North Pole 6-1 vs West Valley

3. Barrow 4-2 at Kodiak

4. Redington 4-2 at Houston

5. West Valley 5-2 at North Pole

• • •

RIFLERY

Friday

A Teams:

Eagle River: Team aggregate: 1130-54x. Greidanus, R. 283-16x, Bierl, A. 283-11X, Berg, I. 282-14, Bierl, C. 282-13x.

West: Team aggregate: 1090-42x Larson, S. 279-13x, Nilsson, S. 275-8x, Cunningham, T. 271-11x, Snelling, A. 265-10x.

B Teams:

Eagle River: Team aggregate: 1120-44x. Sumagang, E. 282-11x, Westman, K. 280-11x, Greidanus, H. 280-9x, Floyd, R. 278-13x.

West: Team aggregate: 1035-24x. Osgood, A. 261-6x, Jordet, J. 260-4x, King, A. 258-5x, Sherburne, L. 256-9x.

C Teams:

Eagle River: Team aggregate: 1077-26x. Jacobs, C. 278-9x, Meerstein, M. 271-7x, Bridge, R. 265-5x, Bell, K. 263-5x.

West: Team aggregate: 931-9x. Cagle, C. 237-4x, Tesch, L. 234-3x, Gull, G. 231-1x, Caterinicchio, V. 229-1x.

• • •

SWIMMING

Friday

West vs Dimond

Girls - Team Rankings

1. West, 107; 2. Dimond , 72

Boys - Team Rankings

1. Dimond, 110; 2. West, 62

Girls 200 Yard Medley Relay

1. Dimond ‘A’ (Molly McBride, Jillian Kuipers, Varya Bodrova, Emma Clayton-Brunelle), 2:08.24; 2. West ‘A’, 2:18.42; 3. Dimond ‘B’, 2:23.38

Boys 200 Yard Medley Relay

1. Dimond ‘A’ (Drew Dittman, Dax O’Brien, Andy Zhang, Caeden Kullander), 1:50.00; 2. Dimond ‘B’, 1:50.55; 3. West ‘A’, 2:08.23

Girls 200 Yard Freestyle

1. Harper Lind, West, 2:16.08; 2. Pia McCarthy, West, 2:20.58; 3. Emma Clayton-Brunelle, Dimond, 2:21.77

Boys 200 Yard Freestyle

1. London Begich-Bal, West, 2:03.18; 2. Al Hussain Elerian, West, 2:06.87; 3. Drew Dittman, Dimond, 2:14.61

Girls 200 Yard IM

1. Lily Poray, West, 2:50.01; 2. Elise Richotte, West, 3:03.47; 3. Sophia Zielinski, West, 3:24.38

Boys 200 Yard IM

1. Jonathan Szymanski, Dimond, 2:21.96; 2. Thaddeus Adkison, West, 2:32.47; 3. Kevin Zhang, West, 2:33.32

Girls 50 Yard Freestyle

1. Payton Curtis, West, 26.80; 2. Varya Bodrova, Dimond, 27.16; 3. Scout Gramse, West, 28.39

Boys 50 Yard Freestyle

1. Cameron Posey, Dimond, 26.81; 2. Collis Baumgartner, Dimond, 30.01; 3. Cyrus Fosberg, Dimond, 31.72

Girls 1 mtr Diving

1. Iona Snyder, West, 181.75; 2. Genevieve Sperbeck, Dimond, 180.30

Boys 1 mtr Diving

1. Roman Billings, Dimond, 217.35

Girls 100 Yard Butterfly

1. Scout Gramse, West, 1:14.57; 2. Jillian Kuibeckpers, Dimond, 1:17.79; 3. Pia McCarthy, West, 1:17.91

Boys 100 Yard Butterfly

1. Clint Kopp, Dimond, 55.64; 2. Andy Zhang, Dimond, 1:00.05; 3. Dominic Brunelle, Dimond, 1:03.90

Girls 100 Yard Freestyle

1. Casey Eischens, West, 1:04.80; 2. Lily Poray, West, 1:05.79; 3. May Kibodeaux, Dimond, 1:05.95

Boys 100 Yard Freestyle

1. Dax O’Brien, Dimond, 53.32; 2. Sigge Mellerstig, West, 55.26; 3. London Begich-Bal, West, 55.69

Girls 500 Yard Freestyle

1. Varya Bodrova, Dimond, 6:33.34; 2. Elise Richotte, West, 6:50.15; 3. Anya Carpenter, Dimond, 7:24.60

Boys 500 Yard Freestyle

1. Caeden Kullander, Dimond, 5:21.62; 2. Evan Kowal, Dimond, 6:31.95; 3. AlHasan ElErian, West, 6:43.73

Girls 200 Yard Freestyle Relay

1. West ‘A’ (Harper Lind, Scout Gramse, Jane Carr, Payton Curtis), 1:52.49; 2. Dimond ‘A’, 1:52.60; 3. Dimond ‘B’, 2:13.50

Boys 200 Yard Freestyle Relay

1. Dimond ‘C’ (Caeden Kullander, Dax O’Brien, Drew Dittman, Kalan Deile), 1:40.92; 2. Dimond ‘A’, 1:46.64; 3. Dimond ‘B’, 1:55.37

Girls 100 Yard Backstroke

1. Payton Curtis, West, 1:04.78; 2. Zaylee Mullinax, Dimond, 1:06.57; 3. Jillian Kuipers, Dimond, 1:31.52

Boys 100 Yard Backstroke

1. Dominic Brunelle, Dimond, 1:04.37; 2. Sigge Mellerstig, West, 1:06.38; 3. Kevin Zhang, West, 1:14.15

Girls 100 Yard Breaststroke

1. Zaylee Mullinax, Dimond, 1:22.31; 2. Harper Lind, West, 1:27.92; 3. Sophia Stubbs, Dimond, 1:31.94

Boys 100 Yard Breaststroke

1. Creed Cvancara, Dimond, 1:10.76; 2. Thaddeus Adkison, West, 1:16.09; 3. Rowan Skinner, West, 1:28.48

Girls 400 Yard Freestyle Relay

1. West ‘A’, 4:17.98; 2. West ‘B’, 4:31.28; 3. Dimond ‘A’, 4:49.33

Boys 400 Yard Freestyle Relay

1. West ‘A’ (London Begich-Bal, Al Hussain Elerian, Cruz Pineda, Sigge Mellerstig), 3:53.82; 2. Dimond ‘A’, 3:57.69; 3. West ‘B’, 4:50.57

Chugiak v. Service

Girls - Team Rankings

1. Service, 86; 1. Chugiak, 86

Boys - Team Rankings

1. Service, 95; 2. Chugiak, 69

Girls 200 Yard Medley Relay

1. Chugiak (Abigail Doepken, Sami Klayum, Kalea Davis, Magen Straka), 2:04.86; 2. Chugiak

'B', 2:12.64; 3. Chugiak ‘C’, 2:13.97

Boys 200 Yard Medley Relay

1. Chugiak (Maika’i Davis, Blake Fazio, Tyson Morgan, Gavin Heath), 1:49.70; 2. Service,

1:53.71. 3. Chugiak ‘B’, 2:02.90

Girls 200 Yard Freestyle

1. Anna Brooks, Service, 2:09.46; 2. Kalea Davis, Chugiak, 2:12.42; 3. Trinity Philbrick,

Chugiak, 2:17.71

Boys 200 Yard Freestyle

1. Tyson Morgan, Chugiak, 1:53.61; 2. Keegan Zawko, Service, 2:06.44; 3. Corbin Wolz,

Chugiak, 2:10.70

Girls 200 Yard IM

1. Linai Tuers, Service, 2:30.05; 2. Magen Straka, Chugiak, 2:39.71; 3. Elianah Philbrick,

Chugiak, 2:39.80

Boys 200 Yard IM

1. Blake Fazio, Chugiak, 2:02.98; 2. Ben Price, Service, 2:03.12; 3. Gavin Heath, Chugiak,

2:32.11

Girls 50 Yard Freestyle

1. Maddi McRee, Service, 29.74; 2. Londyn Koncaba, Chugiak, 29.98; 3. Moriah Anderson,

Chugiak, 30.11

Boys 50 Yard Freestyle

1. Tomasz Balaban, Service, 22.05; 2. Maika'i Davis, Chugiak, 26.18; 3. Shawne Royce,

Service, 28.17

Girls 1 mtr Diving

1. Alexandria Bond, Service, 214.00; 2. Kensley Denmon, Service, 210.65; 3. Madelaine Bond,

Service, 159.95

Boys 1 mtr Diving

1. Reubin Williams, Service, 220.30

Girls 100 Yard Butterfly

1. Anna Brooks, Service, 1:05.54; 2. Trinity Philbrick, Chugiak, 1:15.02; 3. Delaney Henderson,

Chugiak, 1:21.10

Boys 100 Yard Butterfly

1. Tomasz Balaban, Service, 54.99; 2. Tyson Morgan, Chugiak, 56.82; 3. Paradorn Connolly,

Service, 57.79

Girls 100 Yard Freestyle

1. Magen Straka, Chugiak, 1:01.17; 2. Elianah Philbrick, Chugiak, 1:02.61; 3. Jane Merizon,

Chugiak, 1:03.99

Boys 100 Yard Freestyle

1. Ben Price, Service, 48.95; 2. Blake Fazio, Chugiak, 49.35; 3. Braeden Schoppert, Service,

56.42

Girls 500 Yard Freestyle

1. Kalea Davis, Chugiak, 6:05.44; 2. Noelle Oakley, Service, 6:23.04; 3. Lacey Westerlin,

Chugiak, 6:30.58

Boys 500 Yard Freestyle

1. Jan Beck, Service, 4:57.92; 2. Maika'i Davis, Chugiak, 5:33.55; 3. Corbin Wolz, Chugiak,

5:53.61

Girls 200 Yard Freestyle Relay

1. Service (Anna Brooks, Phoebe Toscano, Linai Tuers, Natalie Hostetter), 1:50.97; 2.

Chugiak, 1:58.15; 3. Chugiak ‘B’, 2:01.30

Boys 200 Yard Freestyle Relay

1. Service (Tomasz Balaban, Jan Beck, Jake Altman, Ben Price), 1:34.04; 2. Chugiak, 1:37.47;

3. Service ‘B’, 1:45.96

Girls 100 Yard Backstroke

1. Natalie Hostetter, Service, 1:07.37; 2. Linai Tuers, Service, 1:10.45; 3. Londyn Koncaba,

Chugiak, 1:15.80

Boys 100 Yard Backstroke

1. Keegan Zawko, Service, 1:01.85; 2. Braeden Schoppert, Service, 1:14.92; 3. Caleb Straka,

Chugiak, 1:20.05

Girls 100 Yard Breaststroke

1. Sami Klayum, Chugiak, 1:20.98; 2. Selah Philbrick, Chugiak, 1:27.89; 3. Jazmyne Nails,

Service, 1:29.34

Boys 100 Yard Breaststroke

1. Jan Beck, Service, 1:01.07; 2. Jake Altman, Service, 1:14.88; 3. Nathan Bloom, Chugiak,

1:16.26

Girls 400 Yard Freestyle Relay

1. Service (Anna Brooks, Jocelyn Williams, Linai Tuers, Natalie Hostetter), 4:07.56; 2.

Chugiak, 4:12.95; 3. Chugiak ‘B’, 4:35.18

Boys 400 Yard Freestyle Relay

1. Service (Tomasz Balaban, Paradorn Connolly, Jan Beck, Ben Price), 3:35.12; 2. Chugiak,

4:39.85; 3. Service ‘B’, 4:47.09

• • •

CROSS COUNTRY

Saturday

Region IV Cross Country Meet

Team results

Girls

1. Chugiak 41; 2. Dimond 71; 3. South 83; 4. East 91; 5. Service 101; 6. West 144; 7. Eagle River 165

Boys

1. South 42; 2. Chugiak 66; 3. Service 78; 4. West 95; 5. Dimond 119; 6. Eagle River 140; 7. East 173; 8. Bartlett 235

Individual results

Girls Top 10

1. Mia Stiassny, South, 19:04; 2. Rosie Conway, East, 19:24; 3. Ellie Stull, Dimond, 19:30; 4. Alliyah Fields, Chugiak, 19:31; 5. Avrey Campbell, Dimond, 19:32; 6. Hannah Bodkin, Chugiak, 19:38; 7. Petra Knox, Chugiak, 19:43; 8. Miyana Kam-Magruder, Service, 19:59; 9. Talia Smith, Service, 20:20; 10. Fiona Selvik, Service, 20:10

Boys Top 10

1. Katahdin Staples, East, 16:34; 2. Elias Oswald, Service, 16:46; 3. Jaxon Henrie, South, 16:47; 4. David Penfield, Chugiak, 16:47; 5. Vebjord Flagstad, South, 16:51; 6. Springer Moore, Service, 16:54; 7. Thomas Ringsmuth, Chugiak, 16:55; 8. Owen Harth, South, 16:57; 9. Noa Kam-Magruder, Dimond, 17:09; 10. Luke Shaw, Eagle River, 17:10

• • •

College

VOLLEYBALL

Thursday

UAA 3, Saint Martin’s 1 (25-21, 25-15, 22-25, 25-15)

UAF 3, Western Oregon 2 (25-21, 22-25, 18-25, 25-23, 16-14)

Saturday

Saint Martin’s 3, UAF 1 (21-25, 25-18, 25-21, 25-21)

Western Oregon 3, UAA 1 (25-20, 27-25, 23-25, 25-22)

• • •

HOCKEY

UAA 7, Grand Canyon 1

• • •

NAHL

Wednesday

Anchorage Wolverines 6, Johnstown Tomahawks 2

Friday

Anchorage Wolverines 4, New Jersey Titans 2

Saturday

Anchorage Wolverines 5, Colorado Grit 1